Four Types of Nouns

• concrete• abstract• collective• compound

Concrete Nouns

You can experience this group of nouns with at least one your five senses: see them, hear them, smell them,taste them, or feel them.

Concrete Noun

Cow

You can see the cow.

You can touch the cow.

You can hear the cow.

You can taste the cow.

Another Concrete Noun

CarCan You...• hear the

engine?• smell the

exhaust?• feel the fabric

covering the seat?

• See the car?

Abstract Nouns-nouns that cannot be experienced by at least one of the five senses.

Happiness

We cannot see, hear, smell, taste, or touch this. We can only see the physical manifestations of it.

Love

We cannot see, hear, smell, taste, or touch this. We can only see the physical actions and circumstances that we associate with it.

Where’s the love?

There is nothing here except a silhouette of two faces touching.

Is this bravery or just a man going into a burning building?

Compare

Concrete• student• fire fighter• dog• pencil• computer

Abstract• intelligence• bravery• loyalty• happiness• convenience

Collective Nouns-the name of a number or collection of people or things taken together and spoken of as one whole

gaggle of geese society

More Collective Nouns

clan of hyenas murder of crows

and a few more because I think they are fun!

herd of goats army of ants

And Finally...

clutch of chicks colony of beavers

Compound Nouns-A noun that is made with two or more words. Each compound noun acts as a single unit and can be modified by adjectives and

other nouns

Compound Nouns come in three forms.

1. open or spaced - space between words (tennis shoe)

2. hyphenated - hyphen between words (six-pack)

3. closed or solid - no space or hyphen between words (bedroom)

Noun + Noun Compounds

football bus stop

Adjective + Nouns Compounds

software white board

Verb + Noun Compounds

breakfast swimming pool

Noun + Verb Compounds

sunrise haircut

Verb + Preposition Compounds

checkout to do

Noun + Prepositional Phrase Compounds

mother-in-law lady in waiting

Preposition + Noun Compounds

underworld overachiever

Noun + Adjective Compounds

teaspoonful truckfuls

Don’t forget to study